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MPs Watch: River Nidd and King Charles coronation

Every month the Stray Ferret tries to find out what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.

In May, the saga over designating bathing water status to the River Nidd rumbled on. Meanwhile, at the start of the month, the country celebrated the coronation of King Charles III.

We asked Ripon MP Julian Smith and Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams if they would like to highlight anything in particular, but we did not receive a response.

Here is what we know after analysing their online presence.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, here is what we found on Mr Jones:

On May 2, Mr Jones met with Harrogate Town FC’s community foundation.
Mr Jones met with leadership of North Yorkshire Council, local NHS and the Chief Constable on May 15.
The Conservative MP gave his first interview to the Stray Ferret on May 16 where he discussed his candidacy for the next General Election, sewage in the River Nidd and the Station Gateway scheme.
On May 17, Mr Jones urged a developer to give residents clarity over a planned solar farm in Scotton.
On both May 20 and May 27, Mr Jones joined volunteers at Knaresborough Lido to count visitors for the Bathing Water Quality Status application.
He held a constituency surgery on May 30 at the Harrogate Civic Centre.

When we contacted Mr Jones for comment, his office sent a list of his engagements for May.

Among those included meeting with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the National Air Traffic Specialists (NATS) to discuss upcoming changes to national airspace.

He also met with the met with the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce with other North Yorkshire MPs to discuss challenges in the hospitality sector. Mr Jones also visited Yorkshire Cancer Research at Grove Park Court in Harrogate to discuss their latest projects and collaborations with universities.

Mr Jones’ office pointed out that his engagements and activities could also be found on his Community News website and his Facebook and Instagram feeds.

Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.

In Ripon, here is what we found on Mr Smith:

Mr Smith made no spoken contributions or submitted any written questions in the House of Commons in May.
On May 7, Mr Smith attended a coronation service at Ripon Cathedral.
The Ripon MP visited the British Irish Chamber of Commerce in Dublin on May 11.
On May 24, he received a piece of artwork called “A Path to Peace” from Pateley Bridge artist James Owen Thomas.
Mr Smith visited the Ripon Walled Garden on May 26.

Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty which includes rural Harrogate.

In rural south Harrogate, he is what we found on Mr Adams:

Mr Adams asked Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, on May 2 about what the government was doing to plan for the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.
He asked two questions of Secretary of State for the Home Department, Robert Jenrick, two questions on the recruitment of Border Force staff since April 2022.
Mr Adams posted no updates on his website throughout May.
Normally a frequent social media user, Mr Adams posted just three times on his Twitter during May. None related to constituency issues in rural Harrogate.

Drug dealer has 16 months added to sentence given for stabbing in Harrogate

A violent drug dealer has been jailed for dealing cannabis – just two months after receiving a long prison term for stabbing a man in Harrogate with a knife.

William Boam, 23, from Harrogate, was driving a Citroen C3 which was stopped by police in Tadcaster in September 2021, York Crown Court heard.

They found six large plastic bags in the glove box containing over 27g of cannabis, along with two mobile phones and cash.

Boam was arrested and bailed, but in March 2022 the fire service was called out to his then home in Knaresborough after neighbours reported smoke coming from the property, said prosecutor Brooke Morrison.

She added:

“When [firefighters] attended they found no fire but found the defendant in his living room with large quantities of cannabis, so they called police.”

Officers arrived and found Boam in the living room surrounded by drug packaging and sheets of “branded stickers”, some of which he had placed on dealer bags. Ms Morrison said:

“Police found a further quantity of cannabis in tubs in the kitchen.”

They found a total 256g of cannabis in the property, worth an estimated £785 if sold on the street. The total amount of drugs seized from both the property and Boam’s vehicle was worth just under £1,000.

Boam was arrested again and, despite the amount of cannabis found at his home, told officers the drugs were for his own personal use.

Ms Morrison said that Boam appeared to be operating a one-man drug enterprise in which he packaged, distributed and sold the drugs on the street.

Boam had 13 previous convictions for 17 offences including drug supply in 2016, producing cannabis in 2017, arson and serious violence.

In March this year he was jailed for two years and seven months for wounding causing grievous bodily harm, assault, carrying a knife and breaching a suspended prison sentence.

That incident, which can now be reported, occurred in October 2022, when Boam was still at large following his arrest for the drug matters and subject to a two-month suspended sentence for assaulting an emergency worker.

The victim was at his friend’s flat in Harrogate when Boam rang the doorbell asking to be let in. They refused but Boam threatened to kick the door, so they let him in.

He started shouting at the named victim who threw him out of the flat. About 20 minutes later, the two friends went to get some beer from a supermarket and, on their return, they bumped into Boam outside a homeless hostel in Bower Street where he was living at the time.

Boam punched and headbutted the victim’s friend and demanded his beer, then put his hand in his pocket “as if to indicate he was carrying a weapon”.

He then pulled a knife out and the victim’s friend ran away, chased by Boam. The victim came to his friend’s aid but as he tried to intervene, Boam “lunged” at him and thrust the knife into his stomach. He then “swung” the knife at him again and caught the victim on the arm, before running off.

The victim was taken to hospital where he had staples to close the stab wound to his stomach wall and three stitches to the wound on his upper arm.

Defence barrister Natalie Banks said that Boam had a “very difficult” upbringing and mental health problems.

Recorder Dapinder Singh KC jailed Boam for a further 16 months for the drug offences – a reduced sentence for reasons of “totality” because he was already serving a sentence of nearly three years for serious violence.

Knaresborough town crier Roger Hewitt prepares for final cry

On Wednesday, Roger Hewitt will don his town crier regalia and read one of his hand-written short scripts opening Knaresborough market.

It’s something Roger has done every Wednesday for more than eight years, making him one of the most familiar faces — and voices — in Knaresborough.

But this will be the last time he performs the civic duty, which stretches back to the 1600s, before retiring.

He remains an incredibly popular figure, so why is he stepping down?

“I’m not getting any younger. I think things are going quite well at the moment but I don’t want to carry on until people say ‘it’s time form the poor bugger to go’.”

Roger has a fine line in self-deprecation. He describes himself as a Knaresborough incomer, having only lived in the town for 44 years. He taught chemistry at Harrogate Grammar School for 23 years before becoming town crier. He says:

“I’ve bumped into many people I used to know from my teaching days and from what I can see, I don’t think I have done any serious psychological harm to any of them.”

The pirate of the Nidd. Picture by Charlotte Gale

The town crier role, which is managed by Knaresborough & District Chamber, appealed because he was “coming up to retirement age and the wife was keen for me to have something to do”.

Roger’s background in amateur dramatics, alongside his humour, people skills and commitment to the role — he often agrees to appear at coffee mornings and charity events above and beyond the call of duty — have made him the perfect town crier. It’s worked for him, too.

“I’ve loved it. It’s been absolutely brilliant. The best part is meeting kids. They all think I’m a pirate. All I need to do is let them ring the bell and it’s like someone has given them the best Christmas present ever.”

Although Roger is leaving the role, he’s most certainly not leaving Knaresborough. He says he and his wife would like to do something together now. What makes the town so special?

“I think it’s the combination of history and scenery. People walk around for the most part with a smile, partly because there are so many pubs but also because it’s such a nice place.”

Tradition dictates he opens the Wednesday market at 11am even though, as he puts it, “the fish man is nearly sold out by then”.

He writes 150 to 200 words for each cry, which lasts about 90 seconds and always includes three ‘Oyez’ and ‘God save the King’. He admits to one time mistakenly shouting ‘God save the Queen’ after she had died.

Knaresborough-Town-Crier-Competition-Final-11x7 (1)

Roger helped to select his successor Mark Hunter (third from left).

Does he have any advice for his successor, Mark Hunter, who in a break from tradition will also have two deputies?

“The only advice I would give is to do your own thing and enjoy it. I’ve said I’ll give him two things — my best wishes and my phone number. I won’t be there telling him what to do but if he has any questions I will happily answer them.”

How will he feel after making his final cry?

“I know how I will feel an hour afterwards because one of the pubs has invited me round!

“I shall be nostalgic for what has been a very, very happy eight years but also happy to hand over to someone else.”

317 Olympic pools of raw sewage pumped into River Nidd, study claims

The equivalent of 317 Olympic pools of raw sewage were discharged into the River Nidd at four sewage treatment works in 2020, according to a study.

The sewage was released into the river at Pateley Bridge, Harrogate, Darley and Kirk Hammerton.

Professor Peter Hammond, a mathematician who analyses data on sewage discharges, conducted the research, according to an article in the Guardian.

It says Prof Hammond studied four of seven sewage treatment works on the Nidd so the amount of raw sewage pumped into the river could be significantly higher.

The study aimed to reveal the volume of discharged effluent released from storm overflows by water firms.

Water companies are currently required to reveal the number of discharges and how long they lasted — not the actual volume of raw sewage discharged.

Prof Hammond studied 30 treatment works in 2020 run by nine of England and Wales’ 10 water companies in England and Wales to calculate the volume of raw sewage discharged.

Four of those were on the Nidd, which is currently the subject of a clean-up campaign following reports of bathers falling ill last summer.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones and the Nidd Action Group are leading the campaign to achieve designated bathing water status at Knaresborough Lido, which would oblige agencies to take action.

David Clayden, secretary of Harrogate Flyfishers’ Club and a member of the Nidd Action Group, told the Guardian he saw no reason water companies could not reveal the volume of raw sewage being discharged into rivers.

He said.

“It is extraordinary to see estimates of the volume being discharged. I am very disappointed that the government did not follow the recommendations of the environmental audit committee and make water companies fit volume monitors.”

Knaresborough salon to hold launch party tomorrow

A Knaresborough salon is holding an official launch party nearly three years after trading began.

Loft, located on Finkle Keep in Knaresborough, began as a lockdown project and opened its doors in late 2020.

Teresa McDowell, who offers laser hair removal treatments at the salon, said the previously derelict building had been transformed into a “quirky and quaint” business.

The salon offers traditional beauty services, such as nails, hair, and massages, as well as aesthetic treatments including Botox and filler. Those that work at the salon are all self-employed.

Ms McDowell said the delayed open day was due to the previous team “not gelling” with one another, but she added the current team was “finally solid” enough to warrant a celebration.

She added:

“We are different to all the other salons in the area.

“The thing I love about the salon is that we don’t follow the trends – we are the trend”.

The open day is free to attend and will include drinks and nibbles, as well as live demonstrations of the services on offer.

Goodie bags will also be available to the first 20 people that attend, as well as discounts for future bookings.

The open day will take place on Saturday, May 27, from 1pm.

Knaresborough housebuilder denies contravening health and safety regulations

A Knaresborough housing company has denied breaching health and safety regulations.

Ilke Homes Ltd is set to go to trial at York Crown Court after a prosecution was brought by the government’s Health and Safety Executive.

The company was charged with one count of contravening a health and safety regulation on December 12, 2018.

At a hearing on April 26 at York Crown Court, the firm denied the offence.

The company will appear again at the court on March 4, 2024, for trial.

Ilke Homes, which employs 500 people, specialises in building modular homes.

The company builds the homes at its factory on Flaxby Moor Industrial Estate near Knaresborough. The homes are then delivered across the UK.

Knaresborough man wins Ivor Novello award

A man who grew up in Knaresborough was among the winners at this year’s Ivor Novello Awards, which honour the best in British songwriting and screen composition.

Composer and voice actor Grant Kirkhope was named alongside the likes of Harry Styles, Raye, Florence Welch and Sault as winners at London’s Grosvenor House,

Mr Kirkhope, Gareth Coker and Yoko Shimomura won best original video game score for Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope.

The former local band member has created the soundtrack for video games that have sold in excess of 40 million copies.

He now lives in Los Angeles and has worked on major video game productions including Golden Eye 007 and Donkey Kong 64. But his formative years were in Knaresborough, where he lived from the ages of five to 33 and attended King James’s School.

Grant Kirkhope in his Knaresborough days

He talked to the Stray Ferret about his North Yorkshire upbringing and winning an Ivor Novello. He said:

“My music teacher at King James’s was Mr David Turmeau, who was an absolute legend and saw something in me that I didn’t.

“I didn’t work for any local firms as I played in bands from the age of 22 — after graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music in 1984 — to 32.”

Back in his band days

Mr Kirkhope enjoyed a successful music career before working on video games. He says:

“I played for York band Zoot and the Roots, who were a pretty big live band playing all over the country and Europe. Then later I played for Scarborough band, Little Angels.

“Little Angels had a number one album in the UK and did a lot of headline tours there. We also played as the opening act for Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Bryan Adams and ZZ Top, those tours were gigantic, playing arena shows to 70,000–90,000 people.

“I moved down to Ashby-de-la-Zouch to work at the video games’ company Rare Ltd in 1995, I still came back regularly as my mum was still there. I married my wife Suzanne in 2000 and she’s from Whitby.”

Mr Kirkhope’s brother Gary lives in Starbeck and he travels back to the UK each year to catch up with family.

Mr Kirkhope now lives in Los Angeles

He has been nominated for numerous awards, including a BAFTA, but last week’s Ivor Novello topped the lot. He says:

“I’m still on Cloud 9 really, there’s something very different about the Ivor Novello Awards compared to other awards.

“It’s very much about the actual art of song writing/composing. The panels who do the judging take a long time over it and really go over the music note by note.

“The ceremony itself is closed doors so the acceptance speeches are very personal, you really feel like it’s a room full of like-minded people who really want to hear about your experience as a composer/song writer.

“I don’t think I understood how prestigious it was until I got there, I don’t think I’m ever going to get over this one, it really is the highlight of my career so far!”

Pure Gym to open in Knaresborough tomorrow

Pure Gym is to open its newest gym in Knaresborough tomorrow.

The gym, which will employ nine staff, will be open from 6am to 10pm Monday to Friday and from 8am to 8pm on Saturday and Sunday.

It will provide about 40 classes a week free to members.

It has 220 pieces of equipment, a functional zone, a free weights area, cardio equipment and a fitness studio. Certified PTs will be available to help.

Based on the site of the former Lidl supermarket on York Road, the gym will welcome its first customers at midday tomorrow.

A typical Pure Gym layout. Pic: James McCauley

A Pure Gym spokesperson said:

“Our newest gym will offer members high-quality, low-cost fitness facilities and provide them with access to state-of-the-art equipment to use to achieve their fitness goals whenever they choose.”

Tomorrow’s opening means Knaresborough and Harrogate will both have Pure Gyms — but not Ripon. The Stray Ferret asked the company if it had any plans t open in the city.

The spokesperson said:

“We are always on the lookout for new sites that will enable us to provide as many people as possible with access to affordable, flexible fitness.

“We currently don’t have any concrete plans for a site in Ripon, but will continue to keep an eye out for potential locations for our next Pure Gym.”

Pure Gym was launched in 2009 and now has 1.2 million members and 340 UK clubs.

It is majority owned by American private equity firm Leonard Green & Partners.

Council leader backs River Nidd bathing water campaign

The leader of North Yorkshire Council has said he will back a proposal to designate bathing water status to the River Nidd.

Cllr Paul Haslam, who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge, asked Cllr Carl Les whether he would support the application at a full North Yorkshire Council meeting in Northallerton today.

If designation is successful, government agencies would be obliged to take action to improve water quality at Knaresborough Lido. This would also improve water quality on a much wider stretch of the river.

The campaign comes after reports of numerous bathers falling ill last summer.

Cllr Les said today:

“I am very happy to support that, I think it is a key issue for this council.”

He added he would back a motion by Cllr Haslam on the matter, which is due to be brought before a meeting in July, and “do whatever we can to further that cause”.

The application is due to be submitted to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs this year.

Nidd Action Group and Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, are leading the campaign.

Mr Jones recently issued a plea for volunteers to help monitor water usage.

In a three-minute video on his Community News website in April, the Harrogate and Knaresborough MP blamed the Victorian-era sewage system, run-off from agricultural land and drainage from housing estates for polluting the Nidd.

He said:

“May this year is a critical time as it marks the start of the bathing season when evidence must be collected for the bathing water application that I’m leading.

“This campaign is building momentum but we can’t let it slide.”

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